Best short I've seen
Wow.On the one hand, I like shorts because they're quick and there aren't any unnecessary plot lines. On the other hand, shorts tend to sacrifice quality and continuity.
Familiar Stranger is well written, well directed, and well executed. The plot makes sense, isn't rushed, quality is superb, and I love the music too!
Actors and actresses in shorts tend to stay in shorts, and I've seen the ML elsewhere (Queen of Attack 1 and 2). I think he's a first rate actor.
Anyway, this one's definitely worth watching!
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Suprisingly good for a short Drama
Typically these short dramas are low budget with no name actors. Acting could be cheesy or over the top but occasionally it's easy to watch on the side. So going into this drama I had zero expectations but did NOT see this coming.Great Story filled with mystery and twists definitely good enough to be a longer series.
Great acting by the cast especially the 4 main leads. Chemistry was on fire between the ML and FL. In addition there were some interesting supporting actors, notability Yuanbao the little girl and ML's military advisor. Both offered periodic humorous lines.
The cinematography feel reminded me a bit like Love like Galaxy, beautiful and magical.
Music was also really good.
Only flaws:
1. They left some lose ends w/ the ending
2. Interesting stories like this should continue.........................................
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Only 18 eps, at 16 minutes per episode! Very fast-paced and good romance!
As an 18-episode drama, this has incredibly fast pacing, and this is not meant in a bad way. The writer does not waste time at all, moving from one main plot point to another. The scenes move very smoothly with good transitions between scenes. The soundtrack is really nice and the editing team did a great job adding them to certain scenes.The storyline is more so focused on Shi Qi hiding her true identity rather than the political plotting to get the Crown Prince title. Romance-wise, there are plenty of cute/heart fluttering moments between Shi Qi and Xiao Han Sheng. I highly recommend trying if you're into the forced marriage and secret identity trope. Plus the I-met-you-before-but-you-don't-recognize-me trope? (if that is even one, lol). The mystery element of this drama would be finding out why Shi Qi got her face swapped. When the reason is revealed, I was a bit surprised, which is good cause plot twist! I do have to say I lowered my rating a bit because of the finale. I'm not sure how rational it was for such an ending.
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It's Intriguing
I don't think I have ever seen any drama that I want to leave as it is cos it was that perfect,but still wanted more,I knoow,it sounds ridiculous ,if you watch,you will understand .😄😄😄You get sucked in from the first episode and it makes you yearn for more even after the last episode...
The intrigues,suspence ,the romance between the first lead couple,the sincerity of their feelings and how it's best to follow your heart and look beyond the physical, that was beautiful to watch, their chemistry was good, beautiful acting. Then the second lead couple good acting as well, telling us that if the physical is all we see,we can get blinded and not see what's in front of us and all that passion is all smoke not fire😀😀
I love the comedic relief, military adviser😆😆😆 and funbao , everyone did well,I enjoyed this drama,it's a short drama and I wasn't confused,🤷 there
were opportunities to make it longer,but it's fine as it is,so it's a 9:5 for me. 😊
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Surprisingly good!
OVERALLIt's short, to-the-point, and without major flaws. Watch it if you're bored and in need of a quick, small dose of romance. If you're really not a fan of fantasy or like to be super invested in your dramas, then reconsider. I would still give it a try. It's so short!
THE STORY
I like the switched-bodies trope, but I'm always wary because it comes with so many overused cliches I can't stand. Luckily, this drama does without them. Female lead is mature, poised and smart (although sometimes a bit helpless), Male lead isn't the usual cold prick and is also smart enough not to misunderstand things, so they face the situation differently than the protagonists of other dramas. It's just refreshing not to see the same old mambo. The couple is pretty cute too. There just isn't much to dislike about the story (it's a bit weird what happens with the villains but it's not so bad as to ruin the show).
There are definitely disadvantages to a short web-series format, the biggest one being that there isn't enough time to develop characters, relationships and plot very well. This drama does as well as it can with the time constraint, but you still don't feel very attached or invested in the characters. It's like watching the highlights of a drama rather than a complete drama. However, I find that there are also lots of advantages, the main one being no time for useless side stories that C-dramas are OBSESSED with. And THAT, I'm here for it! If you're the same, give this drama a try. I think it's worth it!
THE ACTING
Good stuff. The switching-body trope is pretty demanding, I thought the two actresses did a fantastic job. Main leads had some decent chemistry too. I have no complaints.
THE MUSIC
Can't remember, but it's not a bad thing!
REWATCH VALUE
Not super high, but not quite low. There were some really cute scenes, but I didn't care about this drama enough to rewatch it whole. I might rewatch parts of it!
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Intriguing
This drama is excellent. It is not too long and each episode has your attention. I love the ML and FL leads. Even the villains are good actors. This is a definite drama to watch if you want romance with a little intrigue. This is also a drama that you will rewatch several times just to see the chemistry between the leads. The music goes very well with scenes within the drama too. I also like the cinematography. There are parts where the scenes has a darker setting. I highly recommend watching this drama when you are in the mood for romance with a little intrigue and you do not want to watch 24 or more episodes.Was this review helpful to you?
A Short Drama and Well Written, Best I Have Scene In A Long Time.
A very good and well done short drama. It keeps you interested and easy to follow story. There are so many twist that surprises you. The lead female character plays both herself and the characters of the face that she has been given so good that you can see 2 different people. The male lead is also very good as he is trying to find out who his wife really is. They both maneuver through their life quietly and calm and gives us so many surprising twist. The villain's are bad but you can also see the good in them. A well written story and great direction. The actors performance is great and keep you going thru the story.Was this review helpful to you?
I don't remember you by your face but your heart
I would just start by saying this has become one of my favorite short dramas.This is one of those dramas which will keep you on your toes.
The chemistry between the actors was very very good and both the female leads portrayed their part to the best. The emotions that they showed on screen could be felt by me.
Both the male leads did and equally good job but somehow, I felt the prince's character was a bit more challenging considering the variety of emotions he had to show and how obsessed he had to be portrayed, and even after all these situations the actor did a great job in playing the character.
The story was something new to me as I haven't encountered one like this.
The casting was really good and I couldn't personally find any flaws in the actors portrayal of their characters.
Pacing of dramas is one of the thing that makes me either like or hate the drama because as a viewer when you watch a drama and you find it leading to nowhere in quite many episodes it becomes boring. This drama definitely did not make me want to skip any scenes or drop it.
I really loved the OST in this drama. If you are someone who loves to read the meaning of the OST in the translations then this one will definitely check that box. The lyrics are so beautiful that it made want to write it down and treasure them.
All actors including the supporting cast were exceptionally good. Even the supporting characters had such a beautiful impact on the drama.
The story starts really well with a good mystery factor in the plot. The plot advances with a good pacing and the mystery factor remained in the drama till the end. One after the other some or the other problems did arise in the show which made the drama interesting considering the plot. The chemistry of the actors was what made the drama even more watchable. The drama had great physical intimacy as well as well as ample amount of heart touching emotional scenes and great visual chemistry.
What stole the show for me was the character of Yuan Bao. She had such great importance in bringing the leads together. Her character even though being so young was very smart and that made the character even more cuter because no one expects a small kid to be so smart. Her interactions with all characters on the show were so heart touching and when there were scenes of the leads with Yuan Bao it felt like a dream family.
What makes dramas special is their ability to make you want the story to be real and this drama definitely did it.
For me this was a great watch and I would definitely recommend it those who like romance dramas with a mystery factor and those like dramas where there is portrayal of a happy family.
P.S. Feel free to tag me or message me if you want spoilers as I tend to avoid giving spoilers in my reviews.
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Hidden gem of actors
I respect what the actors were able to accomplish with this mini drama. This was my first time seeing the ML and both female lead actors and they did such an incredible job. I'm looking forward to more from them in the future.The plot was interesting but I didnt like how gullible FL (Shi Qi) was to the 'villain' FL (Shen Qi). I understand she couldn't help wanting to believe the villain for the sake of finding her sister but I kept wishing she'd be smart and know not to trust her. So even though it was a mini drama, it felt like the drama dragged too much for me sometimes.
Overall, I enjoyed the drama. It was so funny, and had a sweet romance with an interesting plot!
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Gorgeous mini drama
8 episodes x 20 min on Viki. Gorgeous costumes, excellent acting, riveting plot (with major plot twist), beautiful OST and vivid cinematography to grab your heart strings, and really interesting characters. Tightly edited, with just the right sumptuous scenes to flesh out the characters and their relationships, the drama kept me watching to the end. No fast forwarding.The plot is basically Face Off (the movie starring Nicholas Cage) in ancient China, between two women.
After watching Butterflied Lovers (22 episodes x 20 min (I think) also on Viki), another drama by the same Director, I'm now a huge fan of his works. (I'd also like to watch The Killer Is Romantic, as the main couple cameo'd in Butterflied Lovers.)
Highly recommended, as is Butterflied Lovers.
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This review may contain spoilers
My first mini drama
Story was quite simple but unexpected satisfying. Never had patience with short dramas before because most of the time, the story would end too soon for me to love/know the characters.The flaw(s) of the show, too many plot holes left wide open. Like where did the mystic face swapping power came from. Or what really happened with the crown prince. Or what happen to the FL's sister, why did she turn crazy bad.
The ML (the general) is like the unrealistic prince charming from fairytales. He's just the good general, respected and loved by many. But the story didn't include much about him so that's all.
Actors were ok. OST too.
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Shortly said good story, but lacked impact to truly shine
A Familiar Stranger 8/10 - short cdramahistorical cdrama 18eps - 10min per ep
this drama is good and bad in way. I got no problem with actors romance scenes are nice too.. sadly plot even though it got intriguing concept it wasnt well delivered and ending was on bland side too.
plot - FL is painter which paints erotica in hope finding her long lost sister which was sold into pleasure palace. She is abducted by prime minister daughter which thanks magician swaps their faces and makes her to get married to general[ML] in her stead.
genre -romance, historical
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